might be a better candidate for them in this environment that they expect to be running in in 2014. you don't want to be an incumbent. you don't want to be entrenched washington. you want to have a little more leeway to run against washington. >> coming out from the outside it actually provides what you're saying. it gives them that balance. i think what the biggest problem right now in washington is that you have all these senators, these lions that basically remember how washington used to work. nonpartisan -- in a bipartisanship manner. they're getting tired. what message does that say for the next generation of leadership? >> perry, it's interesting. they're free votes now. tom harkin running for re-election, where would he have been on guns? saxby chambliss, where's he going to be? >> he might be someone who plays a big role in somebody who compromises on the debt, deficit. that's what he wants to do anyway. he can now behave as he wants to behave. >> how important, pete, is it that these guys announce early these decisions? >> it's huge. especially for primaries to try and hop